Continuous wire-drawing machine



Mmh 31. 1925. 3 1,531,339

' H. w. HODGSON com'nwous WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed t's sueqt 1 3 Sheets-Shut 2 H. w. HODGSON Filed June 20; 1923 c'dmmuou's WIRE DRAWING MACHINE March 31 1925 1,531,339 H. w. HODGSON I 1" CONTINUOUS WIRE DRQWING MACHINE March 31, 1925.

Filed June 29. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar; 31, 1925.

umr EDiSiTAT'f'EZS Hammer: honest-1v; or message, MASSACHUSETTS.

con-mucous WIRE-DRAWING MACHINE.

Application filed J'une' 20, 1923. Serial No. 6%;687. v

To all whom it may concern: V,

Be it knownthat I, HAROLD W. HoDGsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing nt Fitchburg, in the county of lVorcesterand State of Massachusetts-,--have invented a. new and useful Continuous Vire- Drawing -Machine, of' which the following is a specification,

T1118 invention relates drawing wire 1n a continuous to machine; for manner throughseveral dies or draw plates, and

is an improvement onfUn-ited States Patent No. 865,679 granted to W'oodhoirse Carter and Edwin Hodgson, Sept. 10, 1907.

The; principal objects of this invention areobtained by veryrsimple cl'ia nges in the arrangement of the parts a 11d construction a of the machine for drawing the wire without slipping on the drawing drums, which would'cause euttingof the drun is,- wearing the wire flat, gettingdirt into the; dies to cause scratch ng or cutting; the wire, and

eventually causing the wire to break or to be spoiledg-andto provide an arrangement of gears of such a nature .EtSr-tQf prevent this slipping and the consequent difliculties above mentioned; The. inventionalso involves the arrangement-of the pawlsflconnected with thfedifierential gear cages in such a-rnan-ner a'stO; come into operation; only when the w1re breaksg,o1 1s runnmgpfi and to provide a locking device to facilitate stringinguptl'ie machine which can also; be used by hand if desired to perform; the func% tion of the pawls and circular rack. Other objects and advantages of' the invention will appear hereinafter. a i v Reference is to v be had to the accompanying drawingsin which p Fig. 1 is aside elevation ofa continuous wiredrawing machine constructed in accor-dance 1 with this invention Fig. 2 is a longitudinal; central vertical sectional View on enlarged scale of the third differential shown in Fig. 1;; r I 7 Figs. 3 and l are'opposite face Vievvsotaportion of the same taken in the direction of the respective arrows .3 and tin Fig. 2

Fig. 5 is an edge view as indicated by the arrow 5 in Fig.4; j t

Fig. 6, is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of the first differential, and j Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the uter of Fig. 6.-

In the. drawing ofa wire. varyingaared-uction is given as it passesthrouglis' the differ;

ent-dies or die plates. In using the difiertia l or-sun' and planet'gears shown in the aboye-inentioned patent, or in any other similar system, a certainamount of power or 'pull is transmited through the planet gears to the succeeding drums. Unless this occurs the wire will slip on the drum as above mentioned and cause the difiiculties referred to.

This invention is designed to provide a device in which this power will necesasrily betransmitted to the succeeding drumsin such a way as to avoid this slipping and consequent disadvantages. For this purpose I have employed some of the features of the machine disclosed in saidpatent andhave rje-arranged the gearing'and supplied the necessary gear ratios to prevent the slipping by insuring the transmission of the power through eachset of planetary gears to the succeeding drum or drums.

- I have shown the invention as applied to a machinecomprising a wire drawing bench 10 and operated'by a motor 11 through change speed gearing 12 connected with a shaftl and driving. a shaft 14 which I will call" the first of. aseries of sectional shafts.

I-t'will be noted-that otlrer'shafts are shown gear in the first and second planetary-gears,

a{ large planet gear on the first section, and a slightly*smaller planet gear on the second section-.1 In thethird planetary gear I use the'combination of two' gears so arranged that each has an equal distribution of power or pull'and for that reason I cansimplify thisthird differential.

Onthe first sectional shaft 14 is keyed a member 15 for carrying the planetary pin ions. Thismember has a cylindrical hub on which is freely mounted to rotate independently thereof a bevel gear 16 constantly in,

mesh witha bevel gear 17 fixed on averto, draw the wire throughthefirst dieblock intheholdefQQ. Integrally mounted, preferably by being cut on the shank on this I ticalshaft 18. This mechanism is used for J rotating the first drawing through drum l9 bevel gear, is a sun gear 21. The flange of the member 15 carries in this case three studs 22 on each of which is a planetary pinion 28. These planetary pinions constantly mesh with the gear 21 which they surround and they also mesh with an internal gear or rack 24 mounted on a hub 25 on the next length of shaft 14'. With resistance on both shafts 14 and 14 they both rotate, the former being the driving and the latter the driven shaft. It is to be noted that the internal gear 24 bears a ratio to the sun gear 21 of 2% to 1, or 19 to 8.

On the member 15 are pivoted pawls 27, three of them being shown. These pawls are located to swing freely on pivots 28 carried by the member 15. Centrifugal force is depended upon whenever the machine is running at working speed, for throwing them out into a position to engage in the gear 24 whenever the wire breaks or is running off. In that case these pawls transmit the power positively without any let-up in the operation of the machine.

I also provide a sliding collar 29 on the hub of the gear 16 adapted to be operated by a rocking shaft 30 to move it back and forth. On this collar are pins 31, shown as two in number, movable through the web of the bevel gear into slots 32 in the member 15. This constitutes a locking device for locking the gear 16 to the member 15 and therefore to the shaft 14. This is pro vided to facilitate stringing up the machine as will be obvious to those skilled in the art. It also can be used for the purpose of performing the function of the pawls 27. In other words, the pawls 27 constitute an automatic means for operating the machine positively in case of the end of the wire going on through the first or any succeeding die and thus driving the machine continuously. If these pawls were not usedwhen the wire end came through the first or any succeeding die, that sun gear would revolve and the planet gear and the remainder of the machine would be stationary. These pawls automatically prevent that occurrence. If the pawls are not used, or if for any reason they should not work, the locking device can be manipulated by hand and the operation continued in that way. However, it is not intended that that should be done and the pawls constitute the simplest means for operating the rest of the machine when the wire is running off.

The shaft 14" is provided with a gear 16 for driving the next drum in the same way as has been described, and it is also provided with a hub 25, locking device 29, and a differential just as described above, except that the ratio is slightly smaller. In this case the internal gear on the hub 25 attached to the shaft 14 bears the ratio to the sun gear on the hub of the gear 16 on the shaft For the purpose of driving the next shaft 14 from the shaft 14", which now becomes a driving shaft I find that while a differential gear is required, it is not necessary to have a difference in the speed ratio, and in fact these two shafts should be so connected by the differential that equal power can be obtained from the other side. In other words to secure an equal gear ratio in this construction I have simplified the construction as shown in Figs. 2 to adopting some of the features above described.

On the shaft 14" is keyed a member which is provided with a comparatively thin periphery having perforations 36 for a plurality of bevel pinions 37, three being shown in the present instance. These bevel pinions are mounted on radial a-Xes as is well understood in this art and they constantly mesh with a bevel gear 38 integral with the bevel gear 16 which corresponds with the bevel gear 16, previously described and is intended to drive the drum 19 in the same way.

The bevel pinions 37 also mesh with a bevel gear 39 of the same size as the bevel gear 38 and the same number of teeth. This bevel gear 39 is on a hub 40 keyed to the shaft 14. In this case this difierential works similar to the sun gear differential shown in Figs. 6 and 7 except that the power transmission is equal on both sides.

The device is provided with looking pins 41 entering slots or depressions 42 in the member 35 and operated in the same way as described above and for the same purposes. An external rack 46 is also employed with pawls 47 the same as in the other device in all respects.

In the drawing of wire continuously on a machine constructed in this way the wire is taken at a large size and reduced through a series of dies or draw plates 20 to a smaller size. In the actual drawing of the wire in view of the standard sizes of the dies and wire now usedmore power is required to draw the first reduction than will be re quiredin any of the succeeding ones. Sufficient power or pull haste be transmitted through. the first differential to drive all the succeeding reductions. that not as much power or pull is required to be transmitted through each differential, as the wire gets smaller and nearer the finishing point, Therefore, a smaller ratio in the differential is possible as we near the finishing point.

Operation.

In the operation of this machine a length of wire sufficient to reach the usual wire It will be seen 1 which carries thepla-netary. pinio'ns, resulting in the sun gear being held stationary and the planetary pinions revolving around it and driving the internal gear at increased speed. The locking lever is now pressed into position to lock the sun and planet gears into a solid drive. Now the first drum commences to turn. Only four or five turnsare needed around the first drum and then the machine is stopped, the wireloosened from the wire holder, and the operation repeated for the second or any succeedingdrums as many times as there are drums after the first one. 7

. On reaching the finishing size of wire it is fastenedin the wire holder (not shown),

which is fastened. onthe winding drum 19% This. drum has no sun and planet gearing. The machine is started at slow speed and allowed'to run until the wire is tight between the drums. Then the several locking plates are all released by hand, and the machine is started at high speed. Now it will be noted that if the sun and planet gears have been marked previously the planet gear hereafter is always gaining orcreeping ahead of the sun gear. This proves that these gears are controlled in operation by the wire, and that there is no slipping on thedrums.

When the end of the wire comes through thefirst or any succeeding die, or if the wire breaks, the pawls on that transmission, being forced out by centrifgual force at all times, are in position to hold the internal rack from decreasing in speed below the speed of the driving shaft of that pair. In other words, they immediately come into operation and continue to drive the machine positively. If it were not for them, or some equivalent, the sun gear would revolve and the planet gear and theremainder of the machine would remain stationary. -As stated above, these pawls constitute an automatic means for keeping the restof the machine going in a case like this, but the locking device, 1n additionto its use in stringing up,

could be operated by hand to'accomplish the purpose of the pawls, but it would not beso convenient.

It will be seen that by makingcomparatively simple changes in the machine shown in the above mentioned patent I have suca ceeded in preventing slippage and the various detrimental effects due thereto, and I have also simplified the'gearingand reduced the cost of constructionas well asprovid ing convenient stringing up means which also can be used to drive the machine if desired when the wire comes through the die or if it breaks.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention and shown a specific number of reductions I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein and the same principle can be applied to a machine involving either more or less reductions without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all the details ofconstruction or the particular number of dies and drums herein shown and described, but what I do claim is 1. Ina machine for drawing wire in a continuous manner without slip, the combination with a series of drawing through drums, a separate shaft for eachdrum, and

a wheel rotatably mounted on the end of each of said shafts and connected for'dr1vmg one drum, of a sun gear fixedly connected with one of said wheels, a hub keyed to a drlven shaft ad acent to its dr1v1n shaft, a series of planet gears meshing with the sun gear, and a member keyed to rotate with .the driving shaft for supporting the planet gears, said hub having an internal rack constantly in meshwith the planet gears for rotating the driven shaft.

2. In a'machine for drawing wire in a continuous manner without slip, the combination with a series of drawing through drums, a separate shaft for each drum, said shafts being located end to end in axial alignment, each being adapted to drive the next one to it, and a wheel rotatably mounted on the end of each of said shafts and con nected for driving one drum, of a sun gear said wheels, a hub keyed to a driven shaft adjacent toits driving shaft, a series of planet gears meshing with the sun gear, and a member keyed to rotate with the driving shaft for supporting the planet gears, said hub having an internal rack constantly in mesh with the planet gears for rotating the driven shaft.

3. In a machine for drawing wire in a continuous manner without slip, the combination with a series of'drawing through drums, a separate shaft for each drum, and a wheel rotatably mounted on the end of each of said shafts and connected for driving one drum, of a sun gear fixedly con nected with one of said wheels, a hub keyed to a driven shaft adjacent to its driving the driving shaft for supporting the planet gears, said hub having an internal rack constantly in mesh with the planet gears for rotating the driven shaft, and manually controlled means mounted on each of said drum driving wheels for positively connecting it with the corresponding planet gear support.

l. In a machine for drawing wire in a continuous manner without slip, the combination with a series of drawing through drums, a separate shaft for each drum, and a wheel rotatably mounted on the end of each of said shafts and connected for driving one drum, of a sun gear fixedly connected with one of said wheels, a hub keyed to a driven shaft adjacent to its driving shaft, a series of planet gears meshing with the sun gear, a member keyed to rotate with the driving shaft for supporting the planet gears, said hub having an internal rack constantly in mesh with the planet gears for rotating the driven shaft, and means for automatically connecting each shaft independent of its planetary gearing to be rotated positively by the driving shaft when any drum behind it is freed in any way from pull on the wire.

5. In a continuous wire drawing machine, the combination with a series of drawing through drums, an eqnal number of shafts arranged to be driven one from another in series, a bevel gear loosely mounted on the driving end of each of said shafts and having means for driving its drum positively therefrom, and differential gearing for driving each shaft from the next one, the speed ratio of the differential gearing between the first two shafts being substantially 19 to 8, the corresponding ratio between the second and third shafts being substantially as 17 to 8 and the speed ratio between the third and fourth shafts being equal, whereby the wire will be drawn without slip on the drums.

6. In a continuous wire drawing machine, the combination with a series of drawing through drums, an equal number of shafts arranged to be driven one from another in series, a bevel gear loosely mounted on the driving end of each of said shafts and having means for driving its drum positively therefrom, and differential gearing for driving each shaft from the nextone, the first differential comprising a small sun gear and a large planet gear, the second differential comprising a small sun gear and a planet gear slightly smaller than the planet gear of the first differential and the last differential having an eqnal speed ratio.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HAROLD Vi. HODGSON, 

